Patent GB-816837-A (GB)
Title: Web printing press
Inventor: HUEBNER WILLIAM CARL
IPC: B41F5/16
Filed: 1956-07-20
Abstract: 816,837. Printing-machines; feeding webs. STANDARD REGISTER CO. July 20, 1956, No. 22502/56. Classes 100(1) and 100(2) Rotary machines. A web printing press includes a printing couple one element of which is a cylinder having a plurality of axially-spaced image areas adapted to receive fluids (e.g. liquids or gases with solid particles in suspension) of different characteristics (e.g. colours), and an assembly for leading a continuous web (e.g. paper or fabric) through the couple in sequential printing relationship with the image areas so that the latter are reproduced in exact superimposition on a portion of the web, the assembly comprising a plurality of rhomboidally-shaped turning units for directing the web into a plurality of parallel paths into the printing couple, each unit including a roller for changing the direction of web travel, and mechanisms to adjust individually each unit towards and away from the printing-cylinder for web registration. The web 23, Figs. 2 and 3, is fed from a roll 22, under a roller 82, between the printing and impression cylinders 29, 24 in alignment with the "yellow" images 189, over a turning unit 90, under and over a roller 91, over a roller 86, through the printing couple in alignment with the "red" images 190, and so over turning unit 92, to "blue" images 191, turning unit 94, "black" images 192, roller 80, roller 82, and take-up roll 26. Printing takes place by means of an electrostatic field of force set up between electrodes 32, 34 supported between insulating blocks 33, 35 or electromagnets, in the respective cylinders 29, 24, as more fully described in Specificaton 618,512, precharge electrodes 36 being provided for the web and similar electrodes adjacent the cylinder 29 for the ink on the image areas. The cylinders can be adjusted for parallelism and spacing, and the web rolls adjusted, as described in Specification 636,907. Drying-apparatus. The web is dried on its several paths from the printing couple to the turning units or to the roller 80 by infra-red lamps or other tubular heaters 182 inserted in brackets 183 from the sides of the machine, as described in Specification 636,907. Inking-apparatus. Yellow, red, blue and black ink is supplied from pipes 54, 55, 56, 57, Fig. 10, to compartments 50, 51, 52, 53 of an absorbent roller 44 rotatable on a stationary sleeve 42. The inks are transferred from the surface of the roller 44, Figs. 2 and 10, by circumferentially grooved rollers 58, 60, 62, 66 and a similar lower train to the printing cylinder 29. The surface of the roller 44 may be of porous ceramic material or perforated metal which may be covered with felt. The roller 58 may comprise a plurality of axially spaced members. The transfer rollers may be axially reciprocated. Thereby yellow, red, blue and black ink are supplied unmixed to the respective image areas 189, 190, 191, 192. Web turning; feeding webs. The turning units 90, 92, 94 are identical. The unit 90, viewed in plan in Fig. 6. includes a triangular section 96 comprising spaced upper and lower plates 97 secured in recesses of a perforated pipe 99, the section being slidable in a bar 101. and a triangular section 104 comprising plates 105 similarly secured to a perforated pipe 107. The web passes upwards in Fig. 2 from the printing couple over the section 104 and the pipe 107, under the sections 104, 96 to the lift and under the pipe 99, over the section 96 upwardly, and under and over the roller 91, which is supported in brackets 162, to the printing couple. Air is supplied from a conduit 107a to the pipe 107 and through a flexible connection 107b to the pipe 99 to reduce friction as the web passes round the pipes. Secured to the section 96 is a block 116 having a bore in which slides a guide pin 118 fixed to a block 117 secured to the section 104, to which is also secured a block 122 having a bore in which slides a guide pin 124 fixed to a block 120 secured to the section 96, whereby the section 96 is laterally slidable relative to the section 104. A threaded bore in a block 126 secured to the section 96 receives a screw 127 rotatably supported by a block 128 secured to the section 104 whereby on rotation of a knob 142, on a polygonal portion 143 of a shaft 138 by means of a wrench the sections 96, 104 are relatively laterally adjustable to adjust the spacing between adjacent runs of the web. The section 104 is secured to a bar 110 mounted on rods 111a, 111b, the latter being longitudinally slidable and the former comprising a fixed portion 145 and a slidable portion 144 to which the bar 110 is secured. By rotation of a shaft 146 by means of a knob 147 or a wrench, the portion 144, rod 111b and unit 90 as a whole are adjustable laterally to adjust the lateral register of the impressions on the web. The rods, 111a, 111b are provided with racks 150, 151 which engage pinions 152, 153 on a shaft 154, whence the unit 90 is adjustable towards and away from the impression cylinder 24 to adjust the longitudinal register of the impressions on the web by means of a knob on a shaft carrying a worm engaging a worm wheel 155 on the shaft 154. In another form, the rollers 91, 93, 95 are positioned lower so that the web passes over each of them and thence round the roller 82 to the printing couple, or in the case of the roller 95 passes to an additional roller above the roller 91 and thence to the printing couple. Printing may alternatively be performed by the relief intaglio or lithographic processes. The machine is suitable for use as a proof press.